Wayne has a background in pastoral ministry, business management, and nonprofit consulting.  He is an experienced coach and trainer of ABCD and co-author of Building Leaders to Build Community: A Community Connector Workbook.  He has had the privilege of developing several leaders and organizations for appreciative, highly relational, place-based strategies of community engagement.  Wayne is enthused about the opportunity to help Bates Place Neighbors become a catalyst for neighbor-centered social change. 

He and his wife Vicki have lived in a southeast side GR neighborhood for over 33 years, and they remain motivated by the opportunities and challenges of good neighboring.

Jerry is a self-employed contractor who was raised on the southeast side of Grand Rapids and has lived in or near the Bates Place area for most of his life. He is a people-person who is naturally curious about the experiences and perspectives of others. Jerry’s skills as a sketch artist, storyteller, family caregiver, and youth mentor, and his upbeat demeanor, allow him to naturally strike up conversations with others and develop trust as he gets to know them. His love for people is evident, and his dream for the neighborhood is for the full involvement of residents who care for each other and work together to make things better.

Tecca brings a heart to serve others and extensive experience as a social justice advocate to her role. Over the last 15 years, she has been working with others in several different contexts to meet the

following challenges: ensuring access to good-paying jobs, stopping predatory lending, protecting voters’ rights, providing access to affordable childcare, developing fair immigration policies, and

supporting anti-racism activities. Tecca now does connecting work in both the Baxter and Bates Place neighborhoods. She sees grassroots relational work as a great opportunity to empower citizens, and as a chance for residents to band together and get involved in the change(s) they want to see. She, too, has lived on the southeast side of Grand Rapids for several years.

Annika has extensive experience as a mentor and community builder that includes working with youth at Wedgwood Christian Services and resource connecting in the Heartside Neighborhood of GR. She has been trained and practices as a Spiritual Director through the Dominican Center. Annika initially joined the BPN staff as an intern in the Fall of 2020 while working toward a graduate degree and then stepped into a Connector role in early 2021. After a brief reprieve to complete her Master of Arts degree, she rejoined the staff in the spring of 2024, even while anticipating work on another degree in counseling. As you might guess, Annika enjoys talking with people and building relationships. Her hobbies include photography and outdoor activities such as gardening, walking, and spending time in the woods.